Bryophyte Ecology in Northern Disturbed Ecosystems

自研究生学习以来，我的长期研究项目一直是泥炭地泥炭属物种的生态学，首先是酸雨（氮沉降）对泥炭地泥炭属物种的影响，最近了解了泥炭地泥炭属物种在干扰后演替早期的分布和更新生态位。这将是我研究计划的一个主要主题，但也将研究其他种类的苔藓植物，如占主导地位的沼泽苔藓和北方先驱高地苔藓。该研究项目的总体目的是提供基本的知识，了解是什么因素决定了泥炭地（沼泽和沼泽）或北方和亚北极高地受干扰土壤中苔藓的成功建立。研究的重点将是促进（一些植物如何从与邻居的密切联系中受益），以及这种植物-植物相互作用关系如何有助于理论植物生态学和提高我们对演替途径的预测能力。该计划还将在了解自然和辅助殖民化和演替的限制因素的基础上，探讨如何在生态系统恢复中利用苔藓并从中受益。将研究水位、养分有效性、微地形、遮荫、盐度、湿度和环烷酸对孢子和营养碎片形成苔藓的影响。主要目标将是提供在恶劣环境中控制苔藓在暴露的土壤、裸露的泥炭和岩石表面上定植动态的因素的新知识。研究的具体生境将包括加拿大（从阿尔伯塔省到PEI）有机土壤暴露的泥炭地、国家公园的高山扰动和亚北极扰动。分类重点将包括：1)定居在沼泽和lagg带的Sphagnum种，2)Polytrichum和Dicranum属，3)沼泽中常见的Amblystegiaceae种，以及4)Polytrichum piliferum， Niphotrichum canescens和Stereocaulon paschale地衣。

Since graduate studies, my long term research program has been on the ecology of Sphagnum species in peatlands, first as impacted by acid rain (nitrogen deposition) and lately understanding their distribution and regeneration niche at early successional stages after disturbance. This will remain one main theme of my research programme but other groups of bryophytes such as brown mosses dominating fens and boreal pioneer upland bryophytes will also be studied. The general purpose of the research program will be to provide essential knowledge about what factors determine the success of establishment of mosses colonizing disturbed soils in peatlands (both for bogs and fens) or boreal and sub-arctic uplands. A focus of study will be on facilitation (how some plants benefit from growing in close association with neighbours) and how this plant-plant interaction relationship can contribute to theoritical plant ecology and improve our predictive ability of successional pathways. The program will also address how to use and benefit from mosses in ecosystem restoration based on an understanding of limiting factors in spontaneous and assisted colonization and succession. The effects of water level, nutrient availability, microtopography, shade, salinity, humidity and naphtenic acids on the establishment of mosses from spores and vegetative fragments will be studied. The main objectives will be to provide new knowledge of the factors controlling the dynamics of moss colonization of exposed soil, bare peat and rock surfaces in harsh environments. Specific habitats under study will be cut-over peatland with exposed organic soil across Canada (from Alberta to PEI), alpine disturbances in National Parks and sub-arctic disturbances For the taxa emphasis will be given to: 1) Sphagnum species colonizing fens andlagg zone, 2) Polytrichum and Dicranum genera, 3) species of the Amblystegiaceae common in fens as well as 4) Polytrichum piliferum, Niphotrichum canescens and the lichen Stereocaulon paschale.